Clamping device



June 10, 1930. BAUER I 1,762,323

CLAMPING DEVICE Filed June 1a, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TIER 1 r a 3 6 6 i U mm I y w INVENTOR:

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. fi w yljiazwn June 10, 1930. L BAUER 1,762,323,

CLAMPING DEVICE File'd June 8. 1.926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

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Patented June 10, 1930 PATENT OFFICE EMORY LOUIS BAUER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA CLAMIING DEVICE Application filed June 18,

This invention relates to clamping devices and has for an object to provide such a device adapted to be used in connection with an article having members connected thereto and spaced therefrom and from each other for the purpose of attaching a further article thereto and in which the clamping action of said device may be caused by its attachment between said spaced members.

A situation of this character is presented in the connection of a member, as a shoulder pad, to such an article as a violin to which a chin rest is clamped in the usual manner by parallel adjustable parts spaced from the 5 rib of the violin by the beads on the edges of the front and back thereof.

I accomplish the above object by providing a pair of spaced elements yieldably urged apart and compressible toward each 2 other; one of the elements having side extensions adapted to be positioned under the spaced members, while the other element rests against the article, the adjustment of the elements relative to each other being such that when connected to an article of the above character in the manner set forth there will be a compression of the spaced elements toward each other to grip a member to be held thereby such as a tongue extending from a second article as from the shoulder pad to be attached to the first article as the violin.

In the adaptation of the invention to the situation as described above in connection with a violin chin rest and shoulder pad,

further objects of the invention are to provide a clamping device which may be used to secure a shoulder pad to a violin, utilizing certain construction of the chin rest connected therewith and to so construct the clamping device that it may be used with chin rests of different size and construction, which permits the shoulder pad to be quickly attached for use and detached after use;

which will hold the pad firmly in position while playing regardless of the angle at which the violin is held or the pressure produced thereon by the violinist; which will be positioned directly beneath the chin rest at all times, thereby enabling the violinist 1926. Serial No. 116,772.

to comfortably and firmly hold the violin in playing position, and which will abut the violin at all times, thereby eliminating strains on the violin due to a canting or lever action at the attaching point.

Referring to the drawings which are a part of the present specifications and are illustrative of the invention:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary end elevation of a violin with a chin rest having my shoulder rest applied thereto,

Figure 2 a fragmentary face view of the pad and its attaching tongue,

Figure 3 a side view of the parts shown in Figure 2,

Figure 4 a plan view of the pad partly broken away,

Figure 5 a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 an enlarged sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 a front view of a socket element which forms a part of my invention,

Figure 8 a sectional view on line 88 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 a rear view of the element shown in Figure 7, and

Figures 10 and 11 sectional views on lines 1010 and 1111 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the front of a violin, 2 the back, 3 the rib and 4c the beads. A chin rest 5 has adjustable clamping post sections 6 secured thereto and a foot 7 connecting the ends of the posts. The posts are adjusted by threaded sleeves 8 connected with the post sections by right and left hand threads so that turning the sleeves in one direction lengthens the posts aiid turning the sleeves in opposite direction shortens the posts. By turning the sleeves in this manner, foot 7 may be brought tightly against the back of the violin and the chin rest 5 tightly against the front of the violin.

My improved shoulder rest is attached to the violin by a chin rest of the type just described and includes a shoulder pad 9 and detachable sections 10 and 11. Section 10 is permanently secured to the pad and section 11 is fastened between posts 6 and rib 3 of the violin.

Pad 9 includes a bag in the form of a bottom piece 12 and a top piece 13 sewed to he bottom piece. The bottom piece is filled with fibrous material i l, such as cotton, and a plate 15 is placed on the fibrous material adjacent the top piece 13 as shown in Figures l and 6. The plate is held against lateral movement in the bag owing to its confinement therein by the sewing of the top piece to the bottom piece and is held against vertical movement by the fibrous material therein.

Section 10 includes a tongue 16 preferably integral with plate 15 and extending out of the pad from between bottom piece 12 and top piece 13-. The tongue is curved upwa dly and inclined inwardly and the inclii ed oart 1'? is of curved cross section for frictionally engaging within section 11 to hold the pad in playing position on the violin.

Section 11 has a socket 18 formed between a lower wall 11 and an upper wall 93, a curved extension 19 on the left side of the socket partly embracing the left post 6, a straight extension 20 on the right side of the socket engaging between the right post (3 and rib 3 of the violin, and a lip 371 depending from the socket and clamped to the back of the violin by foot 7. Extension 20, not being curved like extension 19, enables it to properly engage a right hand post spaced at different distances from the eft hand post on different types of chin rests. Lip 21 has a curved part which engages bead l of the violin and aids in properly holding section 11 in place. Section 11 is preferably made from resilient sheet metal having a body or lower wall 11 and an upper wall or part 23 bent down wardly on the body or bottom wall and provided with laps 2% on the opposite sides thereof bent to embrace the body of the sheet, thus forming socket 18 with a long and narrow opening. Extensions 19 and 20 are provided, formed integral with the opposite sides of the part 23 and are bendable into any suitable shape to fit such suports extending transversely of the bead of the violin and lip 21 is formed by bending the lower end of the body or bottom wall 11 of the section so as to substantially conform to the back of the violin, as shown in igure 6. The bend 11 between walls 11 and 523 provides a spring like action be tween these members tending to force them ap rt and the distance between these walls is adjusted so as to be somewhat greater 'han the distance between the posts 6 and the rib of the violin. Consequently, when the member 11 is applied between the rib and the posts the walls 11 and 23 will be compressed toward each other holding the tnember in place and compressing the boxlike gripping socket 18 in which the part 17 of the tongue 16 may be frictionally held as set forth above. The violin engaging faces of socket 18, extensions 19 and 20 and lip 21, are lined with a soft material 25, such as leather or felt, so that these faces will not mar the polished surface of a violin or cause objectionable vibratory noises.

The shoulder rest is applied to a violin by securing section 11 between rib 3 and posts 6 and clamping lip 21 between the back of the violin and foot 7. This is done as the chin rest is applied to the violin by placing the curved extension 19 to embrace the left hand post 6, straight extension 20 to merely engage the right hand post 6, and lip 21 on foot 27 so that it will snugly fit against the back and bead of the Violin. After sleeves 8 are turned to clamp section 11 and chin rest 5 to the violin, lip 21 will then be firmly secured between the back of the violin and foot 7, and extensions 19 and 20 which are somewhat straightened before being clamped, will be sprung slightly by posts 6 and will thus keep socket 18 firmly against rib of the violin. Pad 9 ma then be easily attached in socket 18 by slipping tongue 16 into the socket. As tongue 16 is slipped into socket 18, part 1"? of the tongue which is of curved cross section, will be sprung, and will cause pressure on the inner surface of the socket, which will frictionally hold the pad in position. The pad so held will abut the back of the violin and will be positioned directly beneath the chin rest.

hen playing, the shoulder rest will enable the violinist to comfortably and firmly hold the violin at any angle, and the pressure produced on the pad will be transmitted directly to the back of the violin and will not cause strains at the attaching point of the shoulder rest, owing to the absence of the usual lever or canting action common to the prior shoulder rests.

After use the pad may be quickly detached by merely slipping tongue 16 out of socket 18, and may be put away in a small space in the violin case.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have produced a shoulder rest which may be readily applied to any violin having a standard chin rest, and which is of such construction that the shoulder pad may be quickly attached for use and detached after use, and when in playing position will not shift under the pressure produced by the violinist.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Leters Patent is 1. A shoulder rest for a violin comprising a bag having a bottom piece and a top piece, a plate on the bottom piece and secured adjacent the top piece, a protruding means 'ntegral with the plate and extending without the bag, a holding socket member adapted to be attached to the violin having two sides in holding relation to each other, said rotruding means being curved and inlined with respect to said plate, and. of curved cross-section, to exert a tension when sprung between two sides of the holding socket member.

2. In combination with a chin rest for tse with a violin and having a pair of spaced posts and a foot connecting said posts and adapted to be against the back of the violin to hold the rest against the front thereof, a socket member adapted to lie be- "ween the posts and having a lip extending rearwardly therefrom so as to be gripped between said foot and the violin, and a shoulder pad having means constructed and positioned so as to be adapted to be received 11d held in the socket of said socket member with the shoulder pad resting against the back of the violin.

3. In combination with a pair of chin rest posts having a foot for securing a chin est to a violin, a pad, a pair of detachable sections, one of the sections being clamped to the underside of the violin by said foot, and positioned between the posts, said section having one part formed as a socket, the ther section being secured within the pad and formed with a protruding tongue for frictionally engaging said first section within the socket.

4. A combination for use with a violin romprising a pair of posts adapted to be adjustably secured to the instrument, a chin rest on one end, a shoulder rest support having an extension held in position against the back of the violin by a foot on said posts and held between said posts by extensions in engagement therewith, said support having a socket integral therewith, a pad, a tongue secured within the pad, said tongue projecting without the pad and Adapted to be frictionally engaged within the socket.

5. A combination for use with a violin comprising a pair of chin rest posts and a toot on the ends of the posts and adapted o abut the back of the violin for securing the chin rest to the violin, a pad, and a pair of detachable sections, one of the sections having parts fastened between the posts and the rib of the violin and between the foot and the back of the violin, the other section being secured to the pad, and having means for being frictionally engaged by the first section.

6. Means in combination with a pair of chin rest posts for a violin including a bag, fibrous material in the bag, a plate secured within and adjacent the top of the bag, a foot on the ends of the posts formed to abut the bottom of the violin, said posts being adapted to draw the foot tightly against the bottom of the violin, a socket, said socket being structurally secured to and between the posts, said socket having a depending lip with a curved part engaging the head of the violin and having its end clamped between the back of the violin and the foot by the posts, and means integral with said plate for engagement within the socket.

7. A combination for violins including a chin rest and a shoulder rest having a pad, a tongue having an integral extension secured within the pad and a detachable member engaging the tongue, fastening means for the chin rest, said detachable member being held by said means, the member being made from a sheet of tensile material having its upper part bent downward on the body of the sheet and side laps on said partbent to embrace the body of the sheet to form a socket for receiving the tongue, the sides of the bent upper part having extensions adapted to be secured to and within said means, said means having a foot abutting the back of the violin, and the lower end of the body of the. sheet being bent at substantially right angles to form a lip glamped to the back of the violin by said oot.

8. In combination with a pair of posts extending over the rib of a violin, a gripping member adapted to rest on said rib and having an upper wall, a lower wall, formed by extending the upper wall and bending and returning the same beneath the lower wall, means on said upper wall to limit the maximum distance between said walls, and means extending out from said upper wall and engaged by said posts which in combination with said ri-b distorts the normal space between said walls to form a gripping socket.

9. In combination with a pair of posts extending over the rib of a violin, a gripping member adapted to rest on said rib and having an upper wall, a lower wall formed by extending the upper wall and bending and returning the same beneath the lower wall, flanges on said upper wall extending beneath said lower wall to limit the maximum distance between said walls, and means extending out from said upper wall and engaged by said posts which in combination with said rib distorts the normal space between said walls to form a gripping socket.

ping member ad pted to s. c and having upper wall. formed by extending the upper wall an. bending and returning the same hen ath the ower wall, flanges on said upper wall extending beneath said lower wall to limit the maximum distance between said walls, and extensions on said upper wall passing under said posts which in combination with said rib distorts the normal space between said walls to form a gripping socket.

12. A clamping device for a flat tongue for use in connection with objects having a surface with parallel members lying in wpaced relation thereto and to each other comprising an upper wall, a lower wall formed by extending the upper wall and bending and returning the same beneath the lower wall, means extending outward from .he sides of the upper wall to limit the maximum space between the walls, fastening means extending from one side of the upper wall, and means extending from the other side of said wall and adapted, when lihe device is fastened to an object and when the fastening means and the last named means are extended between the surface and members of the character set forth above, to vary the space between the upper and lower walls by the adjustment of the position of said last means.

13. A clamping device for a flat tongue for use in connection with objects having a surface with parallel members lying in spaced relation thereto and to each other comprising an upper wall, a lower wall formed by extending the upper wall and bending and returning the same beneath the lower wall, flanges extending outward from the sides of the upper wall and bent under the lower wall to limit the maximum space between the walls, fastening means extending from one side of the upper wall, and means extending from the other side of said wall and adapted, when the device is fastened to an object and when the fastening means and the last named means are extended between the surface and members of the character set forth above, to vary the space between the upper and lower walls by the adjustment of the position of said last means.

14. A clamping device for a. flat tongue for use in connection with objects having a surface with parallel members lying in spaced relation thereto and to each other comprising an upper wall, a lower wall formed by extending the upper wall and bending and returning the same beneath the lower wall, means extending outward from the sides of the upper wall to limit the maximum space between the walls, fastening means extending from one side of the upper wall, and a tongue extending from the other side of the upper wall and adapted, when the device is fastened to an object and when the fastening means and the last named means are extended between the surface and members of the character set forth above, to distort the normal space between the walls to provide a gripping action when pressure is placed thereon.

15. A clamping device for a flat tongue for use in connection with objects having a surface with parallel members lying in spaced relation thereto and to each other comprising an upper wall, a lower wall formed by extending the upper wall and bending and returning the same beneath the lower wall, flanges extending outward from the sides of the upper wall and bent under the lower wall to limit the maximum space between the walls, fastening means extending from one side of the upper wall, and a tongue extending from the other side of the upper wall and adapted, when the device is fastened to an object and when the fastening means and the last named means are extended between the surface and members of the character set forth above, to distort the normal space between the walls to provide a gripping action when pressure is placed thereon.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EMORY LOUIS BAUER. 

